Standardized Test Battery for Neurologic Dysfunction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack a non-invasive and efficient way to detect and prevent neurologic dysfunction caused by repetitive, non-concussive head insults in athletes and individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts.
Innovation Solution
Administering a series of standardized tests, such as the King-Devick test and Choice Reaction Time test, to establish a baseline and regularly monitor changes, allowing for early detection of neurologic dysfunction and informing preventive measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standardized tests are administered regularly to detect neurologic dysfunction, then early detection capability is improved, but time consumption and testing frequency requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The assessment is divided into multiple standardized tests (King-Devick, choice reaction time, serial subtraction, etc.) that can be administered separately. Each test targets specific neurologic functions, allowing for modular administration and focused assessment of particular domains without requiring comprehensive testing every time.
Solution Approach 2:
Baseline assessments are conducted before exposure to repetitive head impacts to establish normal performance levels. This preliminary action enables future comparisons to detect deviations indicating neurologic dysfunction, reducing the need for complex real-time diagnostic procedures.
2Reliability
If comprehensive test batteries are used to assess neurologic function, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and administration burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The same standardized test battery is used across different populations (athletes, military personnel, general population) and settings (clinical, field, research). These tests serve multiple functions: baseline establishment, injury detection, monitoring recovery, and research purposes, reducing the need for population-specific or setting-specific assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
Many of the standardized tests are designed to be self-administered or minimally supervised (e.g., choice reaction time tests, serial subtraction). This reduces the burden on healthcare providers and enables autonomous monitoring by individuals or coaches, decreasing administrative complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent monitoring is implemented to detect asymptomatic neurologic effects, then safety is improved, but productivity and normal activity participation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Regular standardized testing provides feedback on neurologic function status. When test results remain within normal ranges, individuals receive positive feedback confirming safe participation. When deviations occur, feedback triggers intervention. This feedback loop enables monitoring without requiring constant cessation of activities, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring comprehensive monitoring after every single exposure, the protocol uses periodic standardized testing at strategically determined intervals. This partial monitoring approach detects asymptomatic neurologic effects while minimizing disruption to normal activities and athletic participation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods of detecting concussion-level, neurologic dysfunction in a subject at risk of having developed concussion-level, neurologic dysfunction following exposure to repetitive, non-concussive head insults. Additionally provided are methods for preventing concussion-level, neurologic dysfunction in a subject at risk of developing such neurologic dysfunction.